US8520998B2ActiveUtilityA1

Raceway with media retaining offset slots

47
Individually held — no corporate assignee on recordPriority: Apr 30, 2009Filed: Dec 1, 2009Granted: Aug 27, 2013
Est. expiryApr 30, 2029(~2.8 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Jeffrey Reed
G02B 6/4439H02G 3/045
47
PatentIndex Score
1
Cited by
1
References
24
Claims

Abstract

A raceway including a base, a first side wall extending from the base, and a second side wall extending from the base opposite the first side wall. At least one of the first side wall and second side wall includes at least one media retention opening having a bottom surface spaced away from the base and configured to receive at least one media. An offset slot is adjacent the media retention opening and extends from a free edge of the side wall to a depth below the free edge of the media retention opening, such that the offset slot is in communication with the media retention opening.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A raceway comprising:
 a base; 
 a first side wall extending from the base and terminating at a first free edge; and 
 a second side wall extending from the base opposite the first side wall and terminating at a second free edge, the base, the first side wall and the second sidewall defining an interior volume within the raceway; 
 at least one of the first side wall and second side wall including at least one media retention opening having a bottom surface spaced away from the base and an opposing top surface, the opening configured to receive at least one media; and 
 an offset slot adjacent to the media retention opening, the offset slot extending from the free edge of the at least one side wall to a depth below the top surface of the media retention opening such that the offset slot is in communication with the media retention opening; wherein the first side wall and the second side wall each include a plurality of media retention openings and offset slots adjacent the plurality of media retention openings; and wherein the media retention openings on the first side wall and the second side wall are not aligned with one another. 
 
     
     
       2. The media raceway of  claim 1  wherein the first side wall and the second side wall include opposing pairs of media retention openings. 
     
     
       3. The media raceway of  claim 1  wherein the offset slot is in communication with the media retention opening via a jog. 
     
     
       4. A media retention mechanism comprising:
 a wall having a free edge and a bottom edge, the wall including at least one media retention opening, the opening having a bottom surface having a first length and spaced away from the bottom edge and an opposing top surface having a second length, the media retention opening configured to receive at least one media, and an offset slot adjacent the media retention opening and extending from the free edge of the wall to a depth below the top surface of the media retention opening, such that the offset slot is in communication with the media retention opening, wherein the second length of the top surface is at least as long as the first length of the bottom surface. 
 
     
     
       5. The media retention mechanism of  claim 4  wherein the offset slot is in communication with the media retention opening via a jog. 
     
     
       6. A method for retaining media comprising:
 providing a raceway including a base, a first side wall extending from the base, and a second side wall extending from the base opposite the first side wall, wherein at least one of the first side wall and second side wall includes at least one media retention opening having a bottom surface spaced away from the base and an opposing top surface, the media retention opening configured for selectively receiving at least one media, and an offset slot adjacent the media retention opening and extending from a free edge of the side wall to a depth below the top surface of the media retention opening, such that the offset slot is in communication with the media retention opening via a jog; 
 inserting the media into the offset slot at the free edge of the side wall; 
 navigating the media through the offset slot; and 
 securing the media into the media retention opening. 
 
     
     
       7. A raceway comprising:
 a base; 
 a first side wall extending from the base and terminating at a first free edge; and 
 a second side wall extending from the base opposite the first side wall and terminating at a second free edge, the base, the first side wall and the second sidewall defining an interior volume within the raceway; 
 at least one of the first side wall and second side wall including at least one media retention opening having a bottom surface spaced away from the base and an opposing top surface, the opening configured to receive at least one media; and 
 an offset slot adjacent to the media retention opening, the offset slot extending from the free edge of the at least one side wall to a depth below the top surface of the media retention opening such that the offset slot is in communication with the media retention opening; 
 
       wherein the offset slot is in communication with the media retention opening via a jog. 
     
     
       8. The media raceway of  claim 7  wherein the jog is generally parallel to the base. 
     
     
       9. The media raceway of  claim 7  wherein the jog is angled with respect to the base. 
     
     
       10. The media raceway of  claim 7  wherein the depth of the offset slot below the top surface of the media retention opening is equal to or greater than the width of the offset slot. 
     
     
       11. The media raceway of  claim 7  wherein the depth of the offset slot below the top surface of the media retention opening is greater than the corresponding greatest dimension of the media. 
     
     
       12. The media raceway of  claim 7  wherein the width of the media retention opening is greater than the width of the offset slot. 
     
     
       13. The media raceway of  claim 7  wherein the height of the media retention opening is greater than the height of the offset slot. 
     
     
       14. The media raceway of  claim 7  wherein the area encompassed by the media retention opening is greater than the area encompassed by the offset slot. 
     
     
       15. The media raceway of  claim 7  wherein the free edge of the first side wall and free edge of the second side wall include latching mechanisms for receiving a cover. 
     
     
       16. A media retention mechanism comprising:
 a wall having a free edge and a bottom edge, the wall including at least one media retention opening having a bottom surface spaced away from the bottom edge and an opposing top surface, the media retention opening configured to receive at least one media, and an offset slot adjacent the media retention opening and extending from the free edge of the wall to a depth below the top surface of the media retention opening, such that the offset slot is in communication with the media retention opening via a jog. 
 
     
     
       17. The media retention mechanism of  claim 16  wherein the wall includes a plurality of media retention openings and offset slots adjacent the plurality of media retention openings. 
     
     
       18. The media retention mechanism of  claim 16  wherein the jog is generally parallel to the bottom edge. 
     
     
       19. The media retention mechanism of  claim 16  wherein the jog is angled with respect to the bottom edge. 
     
     
       20. The media retention mechanism of  claim 16  wherein the depth of the offset slot below the top surface of the media retention opening is equal to or greater than the width of the offset slot. 
     
     
       21. The media retention mechanism of  claim 16  wherein the depth of the offset slot below the top surface of the media retention opening is greater than the diameter of the media. 
     
     
       22. The media retention mechanism of  claim 16  wherein the width of the media retention opening is greater than the width of the offset slot. 
     
     
       23. The media retention mechanism of  claim 16  wherein the height of the media retention opening is greater than the height of the offset slot. 
     
     
       24. The media retention mechanism of  claim 16  wherein the area encompassed by the media retention opening is greater than the area encompassed by the offset slot.

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